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The Woe of Trudeau …

Guess who may be going to Canada? No, it isn’t me … and I’m not going to tell you who just yet … I will get to that in a moment …

Of all the world leaders today, I think I most respect Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada. He is wise, gracious, and most of all, he is a humanitarian. PM Trudeau and Donald Trump are as different as night and day:

Trudeau is a self-described feminist who appointed his country’s first gender-balanced cabinet. Trump, currently married to his third wife, has cheated on the first two, and has been accused multiple times of sexual misconduct. There are very few women among Trump’s cabinet picks.

Trudeau has sought to champion trade deals such as Ceta (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, with the EU). Trump withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal last month and has threatened to rip up the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) trade deal.

Trudeau said, “To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength”. Trump signed an executive order to ban all immigrants from seven Middle Eastern nations that are primarily Muslim nations, for no apparent reason.

Trudeau is well-educated and speaks intelligently. Trump can barely string a sentence together on his best days.

So it is understandable that as Justin Trudeau plans for a visit to the U.S. to meet with Trump next Monday, he is consulting with other world leaders for advice on how to proceed. In preparation for the upcoming meeting, PM Trudeau has contacted both British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President François Hollande to discuss how best to engage with Trump. Two of the key points that will likely be discussed are trade and the Keystone pipeline.

While other leaders have, understandably and justifiably, criticized Trump, Trudeau has notably refrained from doing so. In part this is because of his nature, but more importantly, the economies of Canada and the U.S. are closely tied, with some 73% of Canada’s exports going to the U.S. Trump has threatened to ‘rip up’ NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and re-negotiate to be in the best interest of the U.S., as well as impose border tariffs on imports from both Canada and Mexico. Trudeau, familiar by now with Trump’s inconsistent and irrational rhetoric, must be concerned for the future of Canadian-U.S. relations.

Earlier today, asked how he viewed his relationship with the United States, Trudeau said, “Canadians expect their government to have a constructive working relationship with the incoming American administration, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. But there are things that we hold dear that the Americans haven’t prioritized. I’m never going to shy away from standing up for what I believe in — whether it’s proclaiming loudly to the world that I am a feminist, whether it’s understanding that immigration is a source of strength for us and Muslim Canadians are an essential part of the success of our country today and into the future.” I wonder if Canadians would be willing to trade leaders?

Now, as if that weren’t enough for PM Trudeau to have to worry about … word has it that Trump is seriously considering none other than America’s #1 Bimbo, Sarah Palin, as the U.S. Ambassador to Canada!!! Take a minute to savor that one!

Canadians are not exactly jumping for joy at this news. Democrat MP Charlie Angus tweeted, “Sarah Palin as ambassador? Well that would show how little Steve Bannon and his pal @realDonaldTrump think of Canada.” Some thought it was an early April Fool’s joke from the White House, while still others thought it must surely be fake news. But no, a White House spokesperson confirmed that she was being considered. Some reactions from Canadians:

“Appointing Sarah Palin as the US ambassador to Canada is, like, ultimate trolling.”

“If he makes Sarah Palin the US Ambassador to Canada. I say we keep our oil and hockey players. BTW … does she speak Canadian?”

“This is entirely because Sarah Palin can see Canada from Alaska, isn’t it?”

“Just cus @SarahPalinUSA ‘probably’ knows the difference between a moose & a beaver shouldn’t make her a Canadian ambassador option.”

“Palin as ambassador is an insult. To any country.”

“Dear Mr. Trump: Rather than appoint Sarah Palin as ambassador to Canada, please bomb us. Signed, all intelligent life in Canada.” (This was my personal favourite!)

“I know #Trump is cruel and heartless but making #SarahPalin #US #Ambassador to #Canada would be going too far.”

Last week I wrote about Trump’s choice of Ted Malloch as ambassador to the EU, a poor choice, as Malloch has expressed disdain for the European Union. The appointment of Sarah Palin as ambassador to Canada would be an equally poor selection, not only because she is a brainless twit, but because her ideology, to the extent she can be said to have one, is quite the opposite of that of PM Trudeau. Andrew Cohen, a columnist for the Ottawa Citizen, summed it up best: “In Canada, Palin would have to learn to speak one of our official languages. She would have to live in a land of naïfs who favour immigrants, gay marriage, the United Nations and NATO.”

Ambassadors serve as a liaison in communications between the two countries, and Palin sorely lacks the intellect or the filter to be an ambassador to any country, let alone our nearest ally, an ally with whom we have historically had cordial relations and with whom we share a border. It seems to me rather a slap in the face to even consider her for the appointment. But then, it shouldn’t come as a surprise, given that Trump seems intent on destroying relationships with allies while cultivating relationships with contentious dictators such as Putin and Erdoğan.

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26 thoughts on “The Woe of Trudeau …”

Trudeau should consult with hockey players before meeting with Trump. They can show him how to pull Trump’s jacket up to immobilize his arms before punching him. Seriously though, Sarah Palin as ambassador to Canada is an insult to Canada.

Please forgive me for sinking to the level of DT. Both of our neighbors’ leaders are better looking, have accomplished gorgeous wives. Both are smarter, more competent and charming, which frankly makes me jealous.

Sarah Palin would measure up to DT’s definition of only hiring the best and the brightest. It has been my impression that Steve Bannon has the hots for her. What better qualifications could you ask for to be our representative in Canada? We owe our northern neighbor, our sincerest apology.

Jill, call me crazy, but as a US citizen, I prefer serious minded people who know the subjects to be in charge of departments and tasks. An education secretary should know the difficulties of educating many in a diverse population. An energy secretary should know more about the science of energy sources/ productions/ climate change.

For these reasons, I view her consideration not with much anticipation. The half-governor (I call her this because she quit when she was beginning to get ethics questions) is not the most qualified person for this role. I like Nikki Haley, the former SC governor, but she is not expert in foreign affairs, so she has a steep learning curve. But, she at least was a highly competent governor in SC.

Good Lord, is there anyone this man won’t offend? Young Mr Trudeau reminds me of a young JFK when I was sure America could count on the World declaring themselves States until they ruled it all. There’s been no-one like him until Obama but he was stopped from inside which led me to think America was doomed because it still has racial issues. Now you’ve gone from the sublime to the ridiculous and that’s what poor Mr Trudeau has to face. Heaven help him.
xxx Cwtch mawr xxx

No, I don’t think he has limits as to who he will not offend. Yes, I have thought of Trudeau as akin to JFK … also, a chip off the ol’ block, as his father was much the same — I admired Pierre also. And yes, Trump is an abomination … an embarrassment … a pimple on the patootie of the U.S. I never imagined the lows this nation could stoop to. I feel like I owe everyone an apology, even though I didn’t, and never would have, voted for Trump. Sigh. 😦 Hugs, my friend.

It must be exceeding rare for people to be wishing the end of a Presidential term after just a month and to spend time dreaming of better things to come so quickly knowing it will be so long in coming……if at all.
xxx Unlimited Hugs xxx.

It is rare, I’m sure, and I don’t think he can possibly last for the full 4 years. But then … I didn’t think he could possibly win the election, either, so my predictions are obviously flawed. 😀 Many big hugs!

In two years, at least, we can get rid of some members of Congress (8 Republican senators and all 435 House members) who come up for re-election in 2018. Assuming, of course, that we still have free elections by that time. Sigh.

I think he just does not have any intelligent people to fill all those posts … Anyone suitable probably would not want to be called “Trump’s ambassador”. – Oh well. The world gets crazier everyday. Anyone started a countdown on how many Trump-days are left? (Just assuming he won’t be re-elected.) One of my American friends here in the Netherlands recently said: Ok, January is over. 23 more months to go.